News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

A Belfast nightclub has been seized along with 10 other properties under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) made a property freezing order in the High Court last Tuesday in relation to the 11 properties. Club Mono in Ann Street, Belfast, owned by father and son Gerald Anthony McCann and Gerald Robert McCann, both from Holywood, was one of the 11 frozen properties. Gerald Robert McCann (40), of Seapark Lane in Holywood, was extradited to Spain to face drugs charges on December 30 last year.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Armagh

Two business director brothers, whose company went into liquidation with liabilities amounting to millions of pounds, have agreed to a 12 year disqualification. Paul Hurson (46) of Strathmullan, Dungannon and Peadar Hurson (49) of Bridge Road, Burren, Warrenpoint operated as directors of the manufacturing Reflex Mouldings Limited. The company specialised in the manufacture of plastic injection moulded car number plates, mud flaps, car mats and interlocking floor tiles.
(Source: UTV News)

Carlow

The horses, which were discovered last Tuesday, were kept in the same field where at least three other animals have died in the last few weeks. One of the animals, estimated to be about seven months’ old, was discovered half buried and decaying under bushes, while the other horse was found lying dead in open ground. The field in question is directly opposite Rivercourt Estate, past the Éire Óg clubhouse. It is understood that the scrub land, which is about three and a half acres, is infected with strangles, a highly-contagious respiratory infection that can kill a horse.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

Finola Fitzsimons from Bunnoe will be climbing Kilimanjaro in June. Finola, a nurse at St James's Hospital in Dublin has gone to Chernobyl with Chernobyl Children's Project International where she has used her nursing skills to help out, for the last number of years. Before the trip every year she has been involved in fundraising for the project. "So this year I decided to do something different and I'm going on the Concern Worldwide trek in Tanzania," said Finola.
(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

A consortium, including one of Europe’s top energy companies and a leading Irish ocean energy technology firm, is pursuing the development of a multi-million euro wavefarm off the Clare coast, it has been confirmed. Tonn Energy/Vattenfall are partners in the WestWave proposal, which has identified the coast off Spanish Point and the north-west coast off Mayo as two of the top zones for the development of wave energy in Ireland.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

The proliferation of skimming devices being found in Cork shows no signs of abating with more discoveries being made almost daily. Since the Cork Independent reported that a number of students had fallen victim to one of these scams two weeks ago, the number of skimming devices discovered has dramatically increased. Along with a device being found at the AIB Bank on the Douglas Road, further skimming apparatuses were discovered in South Mall, Glanmire, Mallow and most recently Bandon.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

The conviction for grievous bodily harm by shaking is believed to be one of the first of its kind in a court in Northern Ireland. Robert John Anderson (26), whose specific address cannot be made public on the order of trial Judge Philip Babington, and whose baby son cannot be named, also by order of the court, was found guilty of the offence by a majority verdict following a five-and-a-half week trial held in the absence of the media at the Crown Court in Derry. He was also found unanimously guilty of cruelty to his baby son by neglect. The media was allowed to be present in court for both verdicts.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Donegal

A former bakery owner has rescued the family business from almost certain closure by buying it back. Declan Gallagher, who has signed the deal to save the fresh bread section of Gallagher's Bakery in Ardara, Co Donegal, revealed plans last week to employ 100 people within the next three years. The Gallagher family sold the bakery to IAWS for an undisclosed amount at the peak of the boom three years ago. While the repurchase price has not been revealed, it is understood to be considerably less.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Down

A judge caught drink-driving will not lose his job, it has been announced. Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice has decided that Charles Redpath, a Master of the High Court, should not be removed from judicial office. Last month Master Redpath pleaded guilty at Newtownards Magistrates' Court to driving with excess alcohol and was fined £120 and disqualified from getting behind the wheel for 12 months. He had failed a police breath test in Bangor, Co Down, in October last year.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Dublin

A large cannabis grow house and two guns have been found at a derelict house in north Dublin. Gardai (police) from the Finglas drug unit made the discovery in the Glenties Park area of Finglas last week. More than 100 cannabis plants with a street value of about €40,000, a handgun and a shotgun were discovered. The house was converted for the purpose of growing cannabis plants.
(Source: The Evening Hearld)